A headlong exploration into the complex world of hair and identity.

Tag Archives: facial hair

What’s does “Republican hair” look like, you ask? Evidently the established theme at the 2012 Republican National Convention was a left-to-right combover, famously dubbed the “Republican Side-Part.”

*Mitt Romney’s hair was such a popular topic of discussion during the 2012 Presidential Campaign, at one point the New York Times featured a front-page article about the Republican nominee’s impeccably coiffed ‘do.

Ana Mendieta (1948-1985), a Cuban-born artist who explored themes of feminism, violence, life, death, place, and belonging through performance art and sculpture, produced a series of self-portraits in which she transfers the facial hair of a male friend onto her own face. See the whole series here, and consider the gender-specificity of facial hair and how that impacts our [mis]perceptions of beauty.

There’s much to chew on here, but I think I’ll take the opportunity to introduce Rebecca Drolen‘s recent exhibition, Hair Pieces. Here’s what she has to say about her own exploration of hair and identity:

I am interested in the line between the beautiful and the grotesque in our connection with hair. I am intrigued by the rules that guide our ideas and self-image in relation to our tresses. In the work, I use photography and the self-portrait as a medium to construct narratives that function both as visual puns and, at times, as social critique. I hope to use the beautiful alongside the repulsive in these images to tell stories of growth and removal as they examine a surreal relationship between hair and its place.

Be sure to visit her website to learn more and see the entire collection!

Though many assume the term “five o’clock shadow” references the end of the work day, historians actually point to the 19th century upper-crust English tradition of taking tea at five o’clock. The rules of etiquette on such occasions demanded that looking scruffy was considered coarse and uncivilized. Fortunately for this participant, in a 2008 study conducted by psychologists at Northumbria University in England, women demonstrated greater attraction to men with stubble as compared to those with full beards or a clean-shaven look.

This participant persevered for ten weeks in his attempt to grow facial hair before finally giving up. Dr. Jeffery Benabio, author of The Dermatology Blog, offers some advice for men attempting to grow a beard, including a warning for those who might be tempted to rush the process:

In theory, Rogaine could help you grow a beard, but this has never been shown in studies, nor is it FDA approved for facial hair. Applying Rogaine (minoxidil) to your face would likely be irritating and can also cause acne. If ingested or if applied in excessive amounts, it could cause serious side effects like a drop in your blood pressure.

It seems that the key, in general, is patience, but according to Benabio, “If after six weeks you find people saying: ‘Oh, are you trying to grow a beard?’ consider the clean-shaven look.”